Xiao Ce pondered for a moment and nodded: "The imperial concubine is sent to you."
Zhang Jixiang left in response and quickly found Qin Zhao.
After Qin Zhao politely bowed to Xiao Ce, he went to Xiao Ce's side to serve the pen and ink.
Xiao Ce didn't say anything, and she wisely kept quiet, studying the ink with peace of mind, and seemed to be concentrating on it.
Xiao Ce felt that Qin Zhao was too quiet. When she didn't speak, it seemed like she was no longer there.
He was not good at finding topics, and the atmosphere gradually changed. It was different from the peace and tranquility of the past.
Zhang Jixiang also discovered the problem. He looked at Xiao Ce and then at Qin Zhao, feeling worried.
I thought that finding the imperial concubine would help the emperor calm down and handle government affairs with peace of mind, but the fact was just the opposite. The emperor's attention was on the imperial concubine and he was not interested in government affairs.
After finally staying up until it was almost time for lunch, Zhang Jixiang breathed a sigh of relief and suggested: "Why don't the emperor have lunch with the imperial concubine first?"
Qin Zhao wisely did not answer, and there was no room for her to speak here.
As a result, Xiao Ce looked at her and asked, "What do you think, my concubine?"
"I, my concubine, listen to your Majesty." Qin Zhao replied in a decent manner.
Xiao Ce finally saw that Qin Zhao was not only quieter than before, but also more disciplined and obeyed his arrangements. She seemed to be unable to find fault with her, which he probably liked.
But he felt that Qin Zhao shouldn't be such a rule-abiding person. She was very independent and noisy, so she shouldn't be as quiet as she is now.
"Have a meal!" Xiao Ce's face gradually became more solemn, and his aura became stronger.
Zhang Jixiang didn't dare to breathe hard, but Qin Zhao was calm and composed, as if he didn't notice anything strange.
In this way, Zhang Jixiang ordered people to pass on the meal.
Qin Zhao sat silently opposite Xiao Ce, and was quiet while eating. In the past, she would give Xiao Ce food, but now she feels that it is better to do less, make less mistakes, and just take care of herself.
Not to mention that Xiao Ce noticed that Qin Zhao was too quiet, even Zhang Jixiang was anxious.
There was usually a royal concubine there to warm up the scene, but the royal concubine didn't speak, and the emperor didn't speak either, so the atmosphere at the scene was very strange.
Zhang Jixiang was about to give a reminder and ask Qin Zhao to give Xiao Ce food, but Qin Zhao had already put down the bowl and chopsticks: "I am full."
After she finished speaking, she stood up, bowed, and stepped aside.
She was polite enough, and Xiao Ce couldn't find fault with her, but he felt unhappy. He asked in a deep voice: "What's going on with my beloved concubine?!"
He even wondered whether Qin Zhao in the dream had continued into reality. The woman said she would never forgive him, so Qin Zhao was so cold to him.
Is it a coincidence, or are dreams and reality connected?
"I am stupid and don't understand what the emperor means." Qin Zhao looked at Xiao Ce in confusion.
Xiao Ce met her clear pupils. There was only pure confusion in her eyes, no tears, no accusations, and no unnecessary emotions.
Xiao Ce suppressed the emotions in his heart and asked as calmly as possible: "Are you angry with me?!"
Qin Zhao was stunned and asked: "Why do you want to vent your anger on the emperor?"
She and Xiao Ce did not quarrel or have any unpleasantness. She even went to bed last night.
Xiao Ce was stunned by her rhetorical question.
Yes, why should she be angry with him? Didn't he order her to sleep with him last night? This is an honor that other concubines do not have. How could she be angry with him?
"I am much luckier than the other sisters in the harem. The emperor is also very kind to me, and I am very contented." Qin Zhao said softly.
So there is no such thing as being indifferent.
Xiao Ce was speechless for a moment, so he was overthinking. Is there nothing wrong with this woman?
"Why is my beloved concubine so quiet today?" Xiao Ce asked again.
Qin Zhao's heart is that accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger. Can this be said?
"I'm afraid of disturbing the emperor's handling of government affairs, so I don't dare to make any noise." Qin Zhao lowered his head and said, "I'm afraid that I won't be able to serve you well. The emperor should find someone else to serve the pen and ink."
Xiao Ce looked at the top of Qin Zhao's head and felt unhappy in his heart. Could it be that Qin Zhao always thought that he had to take care of his pen and ink?
"Back off!" After a while, Xiao Ce quietly ordered.
Qin Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, and she responded respectfully: "I, my concubine, leave."
Xiao Ce looked at Qin Zhao's back and thought to himself that Qin Zhao was really an ignorant woman.
As soon as Qin Zhao left, Zhang Jixiang took Qin Zhao's place and served as a waiter for the pen and ink.
Xiao Ce felt that Zhang Jixiang was more useful than Qin Zhao. When Qin Zhao was serving pen and ink, he had to guess Qin Zhao's thoughts. At this moment, he was focusing on business affairs and did not need to be distracted by women. This was a good thing.
When he turned over the brands as usual in the evening, Xiao Ce turned over Cui Jieyu's brand without thinking about it.
Cui Jieyu is a useful chess piece that will not hold him back or affect his rest. The most important thing is that Cui Jieyu can see his position clearly.
After Cui Jieyu arrived, she honestly waited on the pen and ink and did not have a strong sense of presence, which made Xiao Ce very satisfied.
Finally, in view of Cui Jieyu's good performance, Xiao Ce let Cui Jieyu live in the west room of the harem. It was not until dawn the next day that Xiao Ce ordered someone to send Cui Jieyu back to the harem.
Even this small detail has been compared by many people.
After Qin Zhao went to bed, he left the Yangxin Hall immediately, or took the chariot back to Jinyang Palace by himself.
However, Cui Jieyu was still able to stay overnight in the Yangxin Hall after attending her bed. When she returned to Jinyang Palace, someone from the Yangxin Hall sent her back, and boxes of the emperor's rewards were carried into the East Wing Hall of Jinyang Palace.
Such scenery represents Jin Shang's attitude. It only shows that Xiao Ce values Cui Jieyu, otherwise Cui Jieyu would not have such favor.
Compared with Cui Jieyu's infinite glory, Qin Zhao seems much humbler and cannot compare to Cui Jieyu's favor.
Jinyang Palace is no quieter now than before.
Since there were two more residents, there were a lot more slaves talking behind each other's back. This time, there were a lot of rumors in the harem, and the slaves in the east and west side halls of Jinyang Palace had something to say.
The words of these people also reached Qin Zhao's ears naturally.
When Qin Zhao woke up early in the morning, he heard various sounds in Jinyang Palace, but he did not hear anything Cui Jieyu said.
Xiangtan was very excited that the East Side Palace had received another reward, but Cui Jieyu herself didn't show any sign of it at all, and her presence was very low, as if there was no such person living in Jinyang Palace.
This only shows that even Cui Jieyu herself knows that this is just false prosperity and may burst at any time like a bubble.
Cui Jieyu has a relatively calm temperament and a relatively low-key personality. If Cui Jieyu really has a chance to rise to the top in the future, such a person will actually be a good opponent.
Qin Zhao knew clearly what happened in the harem, but Baozhu and the others did not.
Everyone received Bao Zhu's order not to reveal clues in front of Qin Zhao. Everyone obeyed Bao Zhu's instructions, but their emotions were still affected to some extent.
For people like Baohong and Baolu, the only difference is that they don't have the word "unhappy" on their faces.
